Music. Album reviews.

Mana Suenos Liquidos (WEA/Latina) (star) (star...

November 28, 1997|By Achy Obejas.

Mana

Suenos Liquidos (WEA/Latina) (star) (star) (star)

Mana, Mexico's top pop ensemble, takes a leap with "Suenos Liquidos." Although not the creative cauldron that Cafe Tacuba released last year with "Avalanche de Exitos," this new effort shows Mana doing more than just copying Sting and English ska bands. Exquisitely produced and polished like a gem, "Suenos Liquidos" shows off the group's strengths: snappy pop tunes that don't pretend to be deeper than they are, the surprisingly iconoclastic drumming of Alex Gonzales and harmonies that caress the ear in classic pop style. "Como Dueles en Los Labios" is simply beautiful as is " La Sirena" (if a little Beatlesque), and the dance tunes, especially "Hechicera" and the salsified "Tu Tienes Lo Que Quiero," are great fun.